Observing Lincoln
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
It’s been noted that if one wishes to tell a libertarian from a conservative, just ask for an opinion on Abraham Lincoln. Let’s just say you won’t find a bust of the Great Emancipator in some libertarian halls of fame. Now there’s no hypocrisy in the truest believers in the Bill of Right to hold this position, mind you. Just consider, they say, the roll call of countries, most all lacking a constitution, that never-the-less managed to abondon slavery without a civil war and a butcher’s bill of over 600,000 American lives (perhaps 6 million in terms of today’s population).
On the eve of Lincoln’s Birthday Bicentennial I can recommend a more nuanced view of our 16th President by Buckeye Institute Academic Advisor Prof. David Mayer of Capital University School of Law. You can find it here.
UPDATE:Meanwhile, another friend of the Buckeye Institute, Academic Advisor Prof. David Forte of the Cleveland-Marshall School of Law weighs in with another perspective on Lincoln, this time tied to President George W. Bush. The personal abuse and vilification heaped on Bush frequently reminded me of what Lincoln went through for most of his term. And whether you agree or disagree with the means, the ends of defeating morally corrupted ideologies were clearly faced by both. Dr. Forte’s piece produced for the Ashbrook Center can be found here.
